The History of Inglewood Care Centre

This history is courtesy of David Ail, Aceman family representative and former Administrator of Inglewood Care Centre.

Inglewood was originally co-developed by Jack Aceman, Monte Nathanson and Sam Rosen.  Subsequent to opening, Mr. Nathanson's interest was acquired by Mr. Aceman and Mr. Rosen, which is why the commemorative plaque on the wall in the south wing of the Lower Terrace features Jack Aceman and Sam Rosen. 

1962: West Van Council gave approval in principle to build a seventy-five bed Private Hospital.

1963: Original plans approved by Government in February 1963.             Estimated cost of the project - $1.2 Million             Architects - Leon Dirassar and Mac James The project was designed in the shape of a cross, with 75 beds plus amenities - 21,000 square feet, on one floor, surrounded by green belt, and sitting on 5 acres of property. There were opponents who wanted Taylor Way retained as it was zoned - residential.  Rezoning to commercial would be required to enable the project to go ahead.  It went to public hearing. June 1963: Rezoning was approved, but continued resistance from the residential community caused delay. July 1963: The project received the green light, despite some community opposition, and it went to tender.

Fall of 1963: Inglewood was under construction.  Crowther, McKay and Associates of Vancouver were the electrical and mechanical consultants.

May 21, 1964: Inglewood Private Hospital was formally opened by the Honourable Eric Martin, Minister of Health Services and Hospital Insurance of BC.  Also on hand were Alex Forst, Reeve of West Vancouver, several BC Hospital Insurance Services executives and the principles, Mr. Aceman and Mr. Rosen. 

Inglewood Private Hospital had 15 private rooms

             10 semi-private rooms

             10 4-bed ward rooms

The first Administrator was William White, who supervised a staff of 55.  The head nurse was Mrs. Julia Gorman, RN, a graduate of St. Joseph's Hospital in London, Ontario.

All the furniture was French Provincial and there approximately $5,500 worth of hospital equipment, including sterilizing and therapy equipment and patient aids.

The building boasted restful lounges, outdoor patios, and the latest in hi-low beds in all rooms.

"From their patios, patients have views of breath-taking beauty, with an unobstructed view of the Vancouver skyline, the harbour and Stanley Park.  The interior matches the exterior beauty.  Gone are traditional austere surroundings. Instead, a feeling of home prevails.  Predominant colours are soft green and gold.  Our purpose is to give the highest standard of care in a happy and pleasant atmosphere.  Our motto is "Happier days for chronic care patients".  Each patient is treated as an individual guest by a staff of nurses, carefully chosen for their skill, patience and understanding.  Graduate nurses are on duty 24 hours each day and the staff includes a physical therapist.  Emphasis is on care and comfort of the patient, and also on rehabilitation, under the patient's own Doctor's direction."

1972: To the north of the Private Hospital, Inglewood Lodge was added, with 88 beds on two floors.  Mae Maxwell was the Administrator and Lydia Stym was the Assistant Administrator. 

[ Of interest, though largely unremembered, is the fact that the same owners, working with the same architects, built the Westview Shopping Centre and the Westview townhouses, at approximately the same time as the Lodge was under construction.  The similarity in style and construction is evident.

1978: The Long Term Care Association of BC was born, bringing subsidized care to BC's seniors and those people with disabilities that prevented them from living independently.  Beds in both Inglewood Private Hospital and Inglewood Lodge were dedicated within this program, making Inglewood a privately owned care facility, providing subsidized extended and intermediate care to 163 BC residents. 

1982: To the north of the Lodge, the Manor building was added, providing 51 private pay beds, offering supported, independent living.

1984: Inglewood was the first such facility to advertise publicly.

1987: The Manor joined the Long Term Care (subsidized) program, bringing the total number of beds across the three buildings to 214.

1994: The Ministry of Health established "multi-level care" and Inglewood applied for funding which would enable the owners to demolish and rebuild the old private hospital. 

Scott Gordon was the architect for this venture and Kindred Construction won the construction management contract.  The residents and their families were unanimous in their desire not to have to move to other facilities and so, for the better part of two years, the private hospital was torn down, wing by wing.  With the necessary approval from all the relevant regulatory bodies, including the District of West Vancouver and the West Vancouver Fire Department, a portable unit was transported to the parking area east of the Hospital and an annex was created on the first floor of the Manor.  These two areas enabled Inglewood staff to care for residents for the period of time that their "home" was being demolished and reconstructed.  The endeavour was complex and challenging and the level of cooperation and support between construction teams, hospital staff, residents and families was incredibly positive and creative!

1996: The Extended Care Unit on the first floor and the Sensitive Care Unit (dedicated to the care of residents with dementia) on the second floor, were opened.  All ward accommodations had been deleted in favour of private and semi-private rooms, and a net of 18 beds had been added, bringing the count, in that building, to 93 residents.

Concurrently and into 1997: A small expansion of the West Wing of the Lodge was completed.  Total number of residents in the Lodge was increased to 89, and the total number of residents at Inglewood increased to 235.

2001: Inglewood Care Centre, as it is now known, was sold to Unicare. 

Inglewood provides care for 235 persons who, because of chronic illness, are no longer able to live independently and require more assistance than is available in assisted living complexes.  There is a staff of approximately 250, including professional Nurses, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapist, a Kinesiologist, Recreation Therapists, and Resident Care Aides.  The management team includes the Administrator, Director of Care, Associate Director of Care, Social Worker, Manager of Leisure Services, Dietitian, Coordinator of Volunteers, Education Coordinator and Maintenance Manager.  There is also a contracted Manager of Care Aides and LPNs (SimpeQ) and a contracted Director of Support Services (Cenex), which includes Food Services personnel, Cooks, and Dietary Aides, Laundry Aides and Housekeepers.